38/55 brass for a Ballard.

[Don McDowell]

The short brass thing is an oddity to be certain. Apparently after Winchester/Olin dropped the 38-55 ammunition in the 50's it was the "long" brass they used. I have a box of factory loads from that era, and the fired brass indeed is the "long" measurement. But when they decided to bring the 38-55 chambering back in the 70's for the commerative runs, they made the decision to just use the short or 30-30 brass length..I suppose for cost savings? My neighbor Doc has one of those Cody Ballards, and it doesn't seem to mind which brass. I think the only time the short brass might become a problem is if a person got off on to the paper patch trail. Greasers shouldn't bother a thing.